Five East Bay districts to receive nearly $45 million in federal grants to reform a dozen low-achieving schools

08-31-2010

By Theresa Harrington/Contra Costa Times

Five East Bay school districts -- including Mt. Diablo and West Contra Costa expect to receive nearly $45 million in federal School Improvement Grants to reform a dozen of the lowest-achieving schools in the state. "I'm thrilled," said Pam VandeKamp, principal of Hillside Elementary in San Leandro, which will receive $1.6 million. "What an opportunity to be able to provide services for our students. Our school is a full service school and we're in a community that is hungry for resources." The San Lorenzo district will receive the money over three years to help transform Hillside by offering more after-school programs, three support teachers, $1,000 stipends to boost teacher retention and home visits for some students' families. The school strengthened its counseling program last year and hopes to improve that this year, she said. The Hayward and Oakland districts in Alameda County are also in line for grants to reform three Hayward schools, close one Oakland campus and transform two others. The state Board of Education on Tuesday agreed to disburse about $413 million in federal school improvement grants to 41 school districts, including two in Contra Costa County, to help reform schools that have consistently scored in the lowest 5 percent on standardized tests in English and math. (more…)

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Five East Bay districts to receive nearly $45 million in federal grants to reform a dozen low-achieving schools

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